Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1014 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Middy Ned, the Runaway. 13 The descendant of a wealthy and influential | the captain greeted the Yankee boy’s appear- family, Sir Henry Wilson bad little hope of in- heriting the title unti] over thirty years of age. Then the death of two persons, standing be- tween him and the title, rendered the heretofore unknown lieutenant a person of some impor- tance, and he quickly became a captain, being g)vep command of a fine frigate—the one which had assisted in the attempted capture of the Volunteer On succeeding to the title, Sir Henry retired from active service for several years, but a life of dissipation had undermined his bealth, and being warned by bis physician that this must be stopped, he decided to return to sea, for awhile. It was thoroughly understood that Sir Henry’s return was only temporary—a mere pleasure cruise; so the admiral recommended the beauti- fuland fast-saiiing Rattlesnake, which the for- mer was pleased to accept. The consul greeted his visitor as cordially as if he did not detest the very sight of him, and before the former had an opportunity to begin his daily tirade, asked: **Have you heard that the Rattlesnake is re- ported as being in the offing, Sir Henry?” ** Indeed! ell, I’m happy to hear it, Any- thing to get out of this cursed hole!” Dentistry, then, was not the fine art it now is, and the speaker’s mouth still bore the traces of Blood’s handiwork, to the secret satisfaction of the consul, who believed that was the real cause of hisanxiety to get out of Bordeaux. ‘Officer from the Rattlesnake, with letters for Sir Henry Wilson!” announced a clerk at this point, and the first lieutenant of the brig entered, “Return to the ship immediately!” ordered the captain, after glancing atthe letters, ‘‘ Have my steward arrange for the accommodation of two passengers, neral Elrington and his daughter, will accompany us to England. “if you are in need of stores, get them at once, and let there be no dallying on shore while doing so,” ‘* Afraid they’ll hear how he lost the teeth,” was the comment of the consul, as the first liea- tenant retired, * Leaving the consul’s office, Sir Henry burri to the commandant’s residence where he met General Elrington and his daughter about to go out for a drive; but his announcement that the Rattlesnake was ordered home immediately caused them to remain, and prepare for their departure, ‘* Better see about having your things packed, at once, Alice,” suggested the general, who knew no crime greater than delay in obeying an officialorder, ‘*And, now, general, about Alice,” began Wilson, @8 soon as they were alone, revealing the cause of the liehe had told regarding the necessity for immediate departure, . **My dear fellow,” interrupted the general, ‘‘asI have told you before, talking to me is throwing away time—utterly useless, Talk to Alice: but take my advice, and wait until we get to England.” ** But she wil not listen to me—appears to have taken a dislike to me, since that sad, un- fortunate—” ‘That will do, that will do!” again, and more hastily interrupted General Elrington. Miss a returned to the room at that moment, and noticing her father's agitation, looked sharply at the visitor—and in a by no means pleasant manner, as if she suspec the cause, Wilson felt uneasy under the fire of the lady’s eyes, and left in the course of a few moments, on the plea of making preparations for the re- ception of his guests. hat night General Elrington and his daugh- ter went on board the Rattlesnake, (which could just as well waited a week for them,) and thus took the first step in a short, but exceedingly eventful journey—one which changed the cur- rent of the lives of all concerned, An hour later, a schooner came to anchor about a couple miles below the city, and shortly after a boat put off for the shore, “Harry along, my lads, and be careful,” urged a man in the stern sheets of the boat, ad- dressing two youths who had disembarked—Ned Preble, and Frank Horton! An hour elas before the youths returned to the boat, which pulled quickly to the Volua- teer, on the deck of which stood ly awaiting them, ** Ah!” Although he must have felt pretty certain of the safety of the party, (since they were provided with rockets in case of trouble,) an immense re- lief was expressed in the exclamation with which ee lood, anxious- | untit four o’clock, when the boatswain a melancholy smile, threw it on the table, say- ance on the quarter-deck, ‘*Come below,” he continued, and, on reach- ing the cabin, turned and uttered another monosyllable: “Well?” **Gone, sir! General Elrington and his daugh- ter sailed to-day for England!” Ned drew a letter from his pocket as he fin- ished, and handed it to Blood. The latter with ing: ** So ende all my hopes,” **] learned something else,” said Ned to divert the thougbts of the captain. tlesnake’s just off the Garonne.” ‘“*Ha! That’s interesting!” exclaimed Blood, his eyes brightening at the thought of their last meeting, and his brain already busy with a new scheme, **She is to sail to-morrow,” continued Ned, ‘*ITsaw her commander coming ashore in his barge and inquired who he was;—that’s how I learned it,” ** And your informant told you—?” **That he was the commander of the Rattle- snake—Sir Harry Wilson.” ‘““What? Wilson in command of the brig? Impossible!” ‘** No, sir, I heard a gentleman who was with him address him by that title.” ‘Then, by the Eternal, we'll meet our friend, Sir Henry, where he will not have a frigate at his back!” said Blood. **You’ve done well, very well, Ned! Send down Mr. Hansen, and tell Mr, Turner to turn up the hands,” anxious The Rat- CHAPTER XIX, A SUGGESTIVE MANEUVER, ALTHOUGH by no means anxious to start, now that he had the fair Alice where she could uot avoid him, Captain Vilson was compelled to keep up appearance before the old general, and the brig lifted her anchor at noon next day. a the Rattlesnake was got under way, the first officer observed a similar movement on board a vessel lying about three miles to the southward, ‘*Looks uncommonly like that confounded Yankee privateer,” he muttered, after studying the stranger through his glass, but, there was too much to attend to, at the moment, to lose any time in useless speculation, ‘** For, even if it should be the Yankee, he’s in too much of ahurry to get home with that lady of his—or to be his—to waste time in a chase,” So thought the lieutenant, and rightly, too. Captain Wilson had concluded to follow General Elrington’s advice, and avoid any expression or exbibition of his passion until they bad arrived in England, and while in no great hurry to t there, would not think of engaging, much ess chasing, an enemy, where he could avoid it. Of course, the stranger was the Volunteer and ew not the same vessel—in appearance— that had so cleverly punished the Rattlesnake, Then, she was a schooner—now she was a brigantine, flying French colors. In the foretop of the Volunteer was Ned glass in band, watching, and every now and then, reporting, the movements of the Rattle- snake, and when the latter vessel was fairly un- der way, the Volunteer, too, began to glide through the water, Usually, there were three or four English frigates lying off the Cordovan Light, but as far as the glass could reach, none were to be seen in any direction, and a cha smile played around Blood's mouth, when Ned descended to the deck, and so reported, ‘* Now, it will be each tub on its own bottom, and one of them to the bottom!” he exclaimed, fiercely. ‘* Don’t run too close yet awhile,” he con- tinued, addressing Turner. ‘‘ Let him get well out, before you attempt to reduce the distance— say about the first dog watch. ‘‘Mr, Hansen, you will see t6 it that every- thing is in readiness to begin, at that time,” ** Ay, ay, sir!” The captain went below, and remaine‘ in the cabin—whetber asleep or awake, nobod y knew— s whistle symmoned the watch below, and then he re- | turned to the deck. The Volunteer was now about three miles astern and to windward of the Rattlesnake, and Ned—who was again in the foretop—was 1 preag on the quarter-deck of the brig caught eye. Startled not a little by this unexpected dis- covery, the sharp-eyed youth resumed his watch on the brig for a few minutes, but without. ain seeing either the skirt or its owner, and when summoned to the deck by the first lieu- tenant, he descended in a very perplexed state of mind, Ned was a quick-witted lad, and his brain was busy as he slowly descended the rigging, As his foot touched the first spoke of the Jacob’s ladder, an inkling of the truth flashed upon him, and going to the captain, he began: “I'm afraid, sir, there was some mistake in the information I gathered last night regarding Miss Elrington.” ab aes Oo you mean, sir?” sharply demanded ‘*That the servant who told me Miss Elring- ton sailed yesterday was eitLer mistaken her- self, or purposely misled me,” soe re what do you mean by that?” ** Just this, sir: Miss Elrington’s father is an English general, the Rattlesnake’s an English man-o’-war brig, and I’ve seen a woman’s a fluttering on the quarter-deck of the g! ‘“* It’s against the rules, I believe, for officers to carry their wives,” added Ned, significant- ly. ‘* By heavens, the lad’s right!” cried Blood, as Ned’s meaning flashed = im, ** Are you tive? Did you see the lady?” ‘** No, sir, I did not make her out. It was only a few minutes ago that I noticed the flut-- tering of a light dress, just as I was about to come down from the cross-trees, I looked again,, and kept watching until called down, but it was: gone,” ‘*Sure you’re not mist.ken about seeing it at all? Be careful, my lad; it will make no little difference in my mode of attack.” ‘“*] am positive, sir, that there is one woman, at least, on the brig,” was the firm reply. Blood placed t reliance in Ned, and for a few moments his countenance expressed the per- plexity he felt. Then his face cleared, and he called to Hansen: ** I’ve changed my mind, Beat the ‘retreat: from quarters ’!” Five minutes before, he had himself ordered the drummer to “‘ beat to quarters,” remarking, with a grim smile: ‘** We'll open with his favorite game of long balls. Keep your weather-eye open, Mr, Turner, to avoid the return of our compliments, ** Begin as soon as we're within range, Mr. Hansen! ‘** An English sovereign for every shot that hitsan English spar!” The crew, now numbering over one hundred: men, cheered heartily on hearing this, and look- ed and felt all the more gloomy, when the first lieutenant, without showing the slightest sur- prise, ordered the drummer beat the *‘ retreat.” The unmoved manner in which Hansen receiv- ed, and issued, the order, deceived the men into supposing be was aware of the cause of the sud- den change; but be was, in fact, more astonished than any other man on board, Blood had watched the effect of the order om both officers and crew, and noted Hansen’s calm demeanor with anapproving smile, Then, after the men bad dispersed, he summoned the lieu- tenant to the cabin, directing Turner, now mas- ter, to maintain the same distance between the vessels. W bile the captain anc lieutenant were below, the sky became overcast and fearing a burri- cane, /urner was about to send Ned to acquaint the captain of the change, when the latter, with Hansen, returned to the deck. ** Yes, it looks a little threatening,” he care- lessly assented, when Turner spoke of the neces- sity of preparing for a squall, at least. ‘“* Hadn’t we better get in shape t’ meet it, sir?” persisted the master, For a moment Blood frowned—criticisms,. questions and suggestions relative toanythinr¢ he | might do, or say (unless invited) were strictly forbidden, but seeing it was love for the vessel that impelled the question—which was perfectly proper—he answered: ‘** Yes, you may make such preparations as are econ or rather get ready to do so, for we must bold on to the last minute, in order to get within range before the light leaves us,” ** Surely you're not goin’ t’ begin—” Turner stopped short in time, and turning to the sail-trimmers and top-men, sent them to their stations, ready at the word to strip the slender, tapering spars of the beautiful brigan- abcut to descend, when the fluttering skirt of a ! tine,